made the exchange.
“You better. I don’t risk court-martial for just anyone.”
“You’re not risking it for me either. You’re retired from the team.”
“True.” Cade grinned. “Cabin is open. Use it if you need a rest before you move on. There’s a car for you a hundred feet or so up the north trail. Tank filled. Couldn’t get bulletproof on this short notice.”
“That’s fine. Thanks, man.”
“Don’t mention it. Seriously. Bailey would skin me if she knew that I’m back dabbling in the business. She still hasn’t forgiven me for the hunting trip. She’s trying to talk me into doing catch-and-release next year.”
He took a second to sort that out. “Like what? Give first aid to the deer? Catch-and-release only works for fish.”
“Women. They are a mystery.” Cade rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
He couldn’t agree more. But although the guys always played the tough macho male in front of each other, Reid could see the undisguised love in his friend’s eyes. A look that said not only would he be willing to give up hunting for the woman he loved, he would gladly give up breathing, laying down his life for her if there was a need.
“You helping me out doesn’t mean you’re back in the business. It’s a one-time deal,” Reid told him. Theirs was a dangerous occupation, and he had no intention of dragging Cade back into it.
“Damn straight. Pregnancy hormones are scary. I tell you, that kid cannot come out fast enough.”
Reid glanced toward his car where Lara sat, her head leaning against the headrest, her eyes closed. He’d missed the whole pregnancy thing with her.
Well, that was an enormous relief. He didn’t understand where that heavy feeling in his chest had come from.
“Although, when you consider what a miracle it is, everything else seems like a small price to pay,” Cade added.
“I’m only personally involved as long as it takes to get the boys back. After that, it’ll be a long-distance thing. I wouldn’t be good for them. The best thing for everyone is if we go our separate ways.”
Cade flashed him a doubtful look, but didn’t say anything.
I F SHE THOUGHT they were going to spend the day sitting around, she was mistaken. Reid had the cabin transformed into command headquarters in no time. Calls were coming in from his friends one after the other.
Jason had been picked up. Apparently, the FBI had been tipped off to his little arrangement at the clinic and was out there right now collecting evidence. Carly was calling in with explanations on every new file she cracked on the CD. Another friend was apparently driving by that railroad bridge in question and sending in photos. There were even aerial photos from some satellite. Reid had grinned pretty wide when he’d gotten that one, and muttered something like, “Thank you, Colonel.”
In between fielding calls, he was going over his maps. Over and over. And checking his weapons.
“I want one,” she said at last, coming to a decision. “I want you to teach me how to use it.”
He looked up from his work. “Are you sure?”
She expected some resistance. His immediate agreement, his faith in her, was gratifying. Yet she felt wary of it. She didn’t want to like him. He was the reason why she was in this mess, the reason her babies were in danger. But it was becoming more and more difficult to maintain that edge of anger toward Reid when she saw how hard he was working to get Zak and Nate back.
And yet, she had to keep the wall up. So maybe she could forgive him—he hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. But she couldn’t go beyond that. No liking him, no needing him. Definitely no wanting him. He would leave as soon as she had the twins back. He’d been clear about that. And, of course, that was exactly what she wanted. Definitely.
Who needed all this danger, upheaval and excitement? Not her. She craved safe and steady.
He pulled a small handgun from his bag. “All right. Watch this. This is
“You better. I don’t risk court-martial for just anyone.”
“You’re not risking it for me either. You’re retired from the team.”
“True.” Cade grinned. “Cabin is open. Use it if you need a rest before you move on. There’s a car for you a hundred feet or so up the north trail. Tank filled. Couldn’t get bulletproof on this short notice.”
“That’s fine. Thanks, man.”
“Don’t mention it. Seriously. Bailey would skin me if she knew that I’m back dabbling in the business. She still hasn’t forgiven me for the hunting trip. She’s trying to talk me into doing catch-and-release next year.”
He took a second to sort that out. “Like what? Give first aid to the deer? Catch-and-release only works for fish.”
“Women. They are a mystery.” Cade rolled his eyes good-naturedly.
He couldn’t agree more. But although the guys always played the tough macho male in front of each other, Reid could see the undisguised love in his friend’s eyes. A look that said not only would he be willing to give up hunting for the woman he loved, he would gladly give up breathing, laying down his life for her if there was a need.
“You helping me out doesn’t mean you’re back in the business. It’s a one-time deal,” Reid told him. Theirs was a dangerous occupation, and he had no intention of dragging Cade back into it.
“Damn straight. Pregnancy hormones are scary. I tell you, that kid cannot come out fast enough.”
Reid glanced toward his car where Lara sat, her head leaning against the headrest, her eyes closed. He’d missed the whole pregnancy thing with her.
Well, that was an enormous relief. He didn’t understand where that heavy feeling in his chest had come from.
“Although, when you consider what a miracle it is, everything else seems like a small price to pay,” Cade added.
“I’m only personally involved as long as it takes to get the boys back. After that, it’ll be a long-distance thing. I wouldn’t be good for them. The best thing for everyone is if we go our separate ways.”
Cade flashed him a doubtful look, but didn’t say anything.
I F SHE THOUGHT they were going to spend the day sitting around, she was mistaken. Reid had the cabin transformed into command headquarters in no time. Calls were coming in from his friends one after the other.
Jason had been picked up. Apparently, the FBI had been tipped off to his little arrangement at the clinic and was out there right now collecting evidence. Carly was calling in with explanations on every new file she cracked on the CD. Another friend was apparently driving by that railroad bridge in question and sending in photos. There were even aerial photos from some satellite. Reid had grinned pretty wide when he’d gotten that one, and muttered something like, “Thank you, Colonel.”
In between fielding calls, he was going over his maps. Over and over. And checking his weapons.
“I want one,” she said at last, coming to a decision. “I want you to teach me how to use it.”
He looked up from his work. “Are you sure?”
She expected some resistance. His immediate agreement, his faith in her, was gratifying. Yet she felt wary of it. She didn’t want to like him. He was the reason why she was in this mess, the reason her babies were in danger. But it was becoming more and more difficult to maintain that edge of anger toward Reid when she saw how hard he was working to get Zak and Nate back.
And yet, she had to keep the wall up. So maybe she could forgive him—he hadn’t meant for any of this to happen. But she couldn’t go beyond that. No liking him, no needing him. Definitely no wanting him. He would leave as soon as she had the twins back. He’d been clear about that. And, of course, that was exactly what she wanted. Definitely.
Who needed all this danger, upheaval and excitement? Not her. She craved safe and steady.
He pulled a small handgun from his bag. “All right. Watch this. This is
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